Hi Rob, I prepped my crossbars and then painted them with Rustoleum's new "Universal" paint from a rattle can (satin black). This is really good paint. Two seasons on and the front crossbar still looks very good but the rear is badly scratched along the top from my Hotstick. I might re-paint the rear next spring and also pad the Hotstick handle with some type of foam (Any suggestions?). My other thought is to cover the read crossbar with clear 3M bug shield for extra protection.

Hi Rob, I prepped my crossbars and then painted them with Rustoleum's new "Universal" paint from a rattle can (satin black). This is really good paint. Two seasons on and the front crossbar still looks very good but the rear is badly scratched along the top from my Hotstick. I might re-paint the rear next spring and also pad the Hotstick handle with some type of foam (Any suggestions?). My other thought is to cover the read crossbar with clear 3M bug shield for extra protection.

I used Satin Black Enamel Rustoleum on a set of old H16 rudders that had completely faded from black to silver. I tried two different kinds of Rustoleum, Flat Black and Satin Enamel Black. The Satin Enamel produced far better results. The flat paint did not dry well and scratched easily. The satin enamel looks far better than I expected and is very scratch resistant. I did not prime it. Just washed it well and sprayed it.